Lexus has launched two new initiatives aimed at fostering local and international industrial design talent.

Both the local Lexus Design Scholarship and the international Lexus Design Awards will offer mentoring and financial support to emerging industrial designers.

The Lexus Design Scholarship will be open to Australian designers, with recipients given the opportunity to display their work at Tokyo Designers Week, along with a behind-the-scenes look at Lexus’ Japanese design facility.

Lexus Australia will collaborate with renowned Australian designer Kjell Grant via his Melbourne Movement organisation to oversee the scholarship, with the Japanese luxury manufacturer committing AU$60,000 to the scheme over the next three years.

"As a luxury marque, design and innovation is central to everything Lexus does - evident in the efforts of our master craftsmen, or 'Takumi'," Lexus Australia’s Tony Cramb said.

"Lexus Australia will ensure that emerging design stars receive the opportunity they need to succeed."

Dates and application details for the Lexus Design Scholarship are yet to be announced, but will be highlighted via Lexus’ presence at the Melbourne Cup Carnival this week.

The recent LF-LC Blue concept will be on show in the luxury brand’s ‘design pavillion’, along with some existing works of Australian designers.

Lexus Design Awards

Globally, the Lexus Design Awards are now accepting entries, with the design brief consisting merely of the theme ‘motion’.

Ten finalists will be chosen by a panel of six judges - including Lexus’ international president Kiotaka Ise - with all ten invited to attend the 2013 Milan Design Week as a guest of Lexus.

Two of these finalists will be awarded ¥5 million (AU$60,000) to cover prototype production costs to demonstrate their designs at the event.

Renowned designers Sam Hecht and Junya Ishigami will act as mentors to these two finalists in the leadup to their Milan displays.

Entries opened at the start of November, and can be submitted online via industrial design forum Designboom.

More information on the Lexus Design Awards can be found at Lexus' global site. (Link opens in new window.)